We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Kimberly Valentine. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Kimberly below.

Hi Kimberly , thanks for joining us today. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?

Choosing to start my own media brand is the biggest risk I’ve taken in my career. I graduated with a news/print journalism degree during the recession, when print publications were shutting down left and right and everyone was turning their attention to digital media. It took me a couple of years and applying to hundreds of jobs before I landed a role as a magazine editor. My editorial career has been a rollercoaster, not unlike many people in the career field, but I’ve always been persistent. I’ve freelanced for several lifestyle and entrepreneur magazines and held full-time roles as a writer and editor for a visitor magazine, a tech company, an online business leadership publication, and more.

Over the last two years, I was part of a reduction in force and also on an editorial team for a publication that was shut down. After the first layoff, I started brainstorming on how to blend my passions for editorial and running to create something of my own. After the second layoff, I went all in and bought a domain name, registered an LLC, and began developing the content for Running Lifestyle.

Looking back, each role I’ve had has given me skills and experiences that I’m applying to what I’m doing now. I’m interviewing fellow runners who are doing great things in their running communities and getting to share their stories, I’m showcasing great cities to travel to for running and racing, and I’m connecting coaches with runners through training advice. It’s so fun! And it’s growing. I can’t wait to see what’s ahead for this little media brand I took a risk on.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I’ve been a runner for about 20 years, and I’ve experienced the sport and interacting with fellow runners from so many angles. Before getting into the editorial industry, right after college, I worked at running specialty retail stores, helping new and experienced runners find their next pair of running shoes and talking with them about the goals they were training toward. I also worked with a race timing company where I saw so many runners cross finish lines and celebrate their accomplishments.

Now as a military spouse moving to new places every few years, running is how my husband and I not only explore our new home but also meet new friends. We actually met a group run about a decade ago in Phoenix, and we started our own run club during our time living in Georgia. Being a part of the running community is so special — the people you meet and the experiences you have training and racing.

Over the years, at running stores and run clubs, so many people have said to me, ‘I’m not a real runner,’ whether it’s because they don’t think they’re fast enough, don’t run ‘enough’ miles, or haven’t run certain race distances. Part of my inspiration to create Running Lifestyle was to publish content that’s geared toward all levels of runners. I don’t think there’s enough of that out there — articles that are truly inclusive of each individual’s running journey. None of the content by Running Lifestyle suggests there’s one right way to go about your training. You can learn some new ideas, take what works for you, and leave the rest.

I also wanted to showcase the running community — from runners and run clubs to the cities runners travel to and the races they run. The City Guides cover exactly what my husband and I are always searching for online when we travel to a new city: what routes to run, where to grab a coffee and a bite to eat, where the local running store is. I know we’re not the only ones who travel this way! The advice is directly from people who live and run there. These are so fun to put together, and I hope they’re valuable for runners.

Ultimately, Running Lifestyle is meant to be for all runners, and that’s why I chose the name. I didn’t want it to feel intimidating or exclusive. It’s for everyone who considers running a part of their lifestyle.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

Business media is not the same as personal interest media, especially when you want to build a real and engaged audience. This seems obvious, but it’s something I had to rewind on a bit when I first launched Running Lifestyle. I spent the last six years writing and editing business leadership content and interacting daily with senior leaders and executives. More formal, less personal, and not often vulnerable. When I wrote Running Lifestyle’s ‘About’ page and initial social media copy, and began doing email outreach to people, I hadn’t shaken the polished, buttoned-up communications style.

More recently, I’m letting myself be a more authentic version of me, writing for my running peers. By communicating this way, I’m also able to encourage runners I’m interviewing and building relationships with to open up and be authentically them. Runners want to get to know real people, and while trying to be professional and polished, I wasn’t letting them see who I am. It’s a process, but I’m getting better at letting down my walls and speaking to my audience more authentically.

Bottom line: Know your audience.

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

I listen to so many podcasts these days! Entrepreneurial, media industry, running-related — it’s a long list. But the resource that sticks out most to me right now, one that’s been truly transformational in how I think about my journey, is the book “The Gap and The Gain,” by Dan Sullivan and Dr. Benjamin Hardy. It discusses a mindset shift: instead of focusing on the gap from where you are now to where you want to be, start focusing on the gain from where you started to where you are now. You can apply this to so many areas of your life! But for entrepreneurs and creatives especially, it’s such a great reminder to reflect on how much you’ve progressed, how much you’ve learned, how much you’ve grown. When you see how big your gain is, the gap doesn’t look as intimidating. My brand is so new, and it’s easy to get lost in the gap. But when I look back just six months, it’s grown so much! Keep your focus on the gain.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://running-lifestyle.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/runninglifestylemedia/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/runninglifestylemedia/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/runninglifestylemedia/

Image Credits

Professional Headshot: Christina Elmore